Integrating Maqasid al-Shariah into Poverty Alleviation Strategies for Sustainable Development Goal Achievement: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

This study employs a systematic literature review (SLR) synthesising 30 empirical studies to examine the relationship between multidimensional poverty and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with particular focus on obstacles including inadequate funding, political instability, and environmental challenges. Using maqasid al-Shariah as a primary analytical framework rather than treating Islamic principles as peripheral variables, the review maps the operational alignment between each of the five maqasid objectives and specific SDG targets, and foregrounds zakat and waqf as central development instruments capable of independently addressing poverty-related SDG indicators in Muslim-majority contexts. Findings underscore the critical role of multidimensional poverty in restricting access to education, healthcare, and financial services, and establish the necessity of integrated economic, social, and environmental strategies underpinned by Islamic ethical principles. Relative to prior systematic reviews, this study's novelty resides in three distinct contributions, namely the explicit application of an Islamic normative lens as the primary analytical framework, a structured SDG–maqasid mapping exercise, and the repositioning of zakat and waqf as core rather than complementary development mechanisms. Grounded in secondary data, the study acknowledges inherent scope limitations and recommends future primary data collection across diverse sociocultural and geographic contexts. These findings offer actionable guidance for policymakers and development practitioners seeking holistic, ethically informed poverty reduction strategies that prioritise marginalised populations and sustainable growth imperatives.